Tracheal penetration and tracheoesophageal fistula caused by an esophageal self-expanding metallic stent.

Abstract

Tracheal penetration of esophageal self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) with/without tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) formation is a rare occurrence. We report the case of a 66-year-old female patient with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who had undergone palliative esophageal stenting on three occasions for recurrent esophageal stent obstruction. On evaluation of symptoms of breathing difficulty and aspiration following third esophageal stent placement, tracheal erosion and TEF formation due to the tracheal penetration by esophageal stent were diagnosed. The patient was successfully managed by covered tracheal SEMS placement under flexible bronchoscopy.

• Authors: Karan Madan, Arun Venuthurimilli, Vineet Ahuja, Vijay Hadda, Anant Mohan, Randeep Guleria
• Journal: Case reports in pulmonology (Case Rep Pulmonol) Vol. 2014 Pg. 567582 ( 2014) ISSN: 2090-6846 [Print] United States
• PMID: 25276461 (Publication Type: Journal Article)